RELATIVELY SPEAKING A TRIUMPH

By Emily Pearce - Friday, April 11, 2008

Appearing in Relatively Speaking at the Apollo Theatre, Newport, are, from left, Rose Kelsey, Peter Stockman, Becky Crow and Ian Moth. Picture by Robin Crossley.

STAGE REVIEW
THE Apollo Players’ 36th season continues with a new production of Alan Ayckbourn’s comic farce, Relatively Speaking, and last week’s opening night was nothing less than a triumph.
The play concerns the tangled romantic lives of two couples — Greg and Ginny, the young lovers who plan to marry, her older lover, Philip, and his wife, Sheila.
When Ginny visits Philip with the intention of ending their affair, a suspicious Greg decides to follow her. Showing up unannounced before Ginny, Greg asks for her hand from the man he thinks is her father, while Philip mistakenly believes the strange young man is asking permission to marry Sheila.
The farcical situation becomes increasingly complicated under the weight of further hilarious misunderstandings until no-one, including the audience, can be exactly sure who is in love with whom.
With only four players in the entire production there was no room for error, and I am pleased to report that all the actors, under the direction of Edna Crosbie, excelled in their roles.
Peter Stockman and Becky Crow were incredibly natural and engaging as the playful young lovers Greg and Ginny, while Ian Moth and Rose Kelsey were superb as the older couple that bickered continuously about everything from Sheila’s choice in marmalade to Philip’s gardening abilities.
The actors handled the material with a sense of timing and confidence that was particularly impressive considering the play’s complicated set-pieces, and the spirit of Ayckbourn’s smart, sparkling and funny dialogue simply shone through.
Relatively Speaking runs until tomorrow (Saturday) at Newport's Apollo Theatre, and I highly recommend you catch it while you can.

RELATIVELY SPEAKING A TRIUMPH

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